graves



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l* L. S. 8v F. B. GRAVES.

HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR.

No. 379,513. Patented Mar. 13, 1888.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. S. 8u B. GRAVES.

HYDRAULIC lELEVATOR N0. 379,513. y Patented Mar. 13, 1888.

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Unire' i ATENT rricn.

LORENZO S. GRAVES AND FRED. GRAVES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,513, dated March 13, 1888.

Application filed April 19, 1886.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

'Be it known that we, LORENZO S. GRAVES and FRED. B. GRAVES, citizens of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the State of New York, have j ointlyinvented an Improved Directdumping Hydraulic Elevator, of which the following is a specificatiomreference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to an improved system oi constructing directpumping hydraulic elevators, whereby we effect an economy of steam and avoid the vibratory or pulsating motion of the elevator-platform, -which has been heretofore a serious objection to the use of elevators of this class.

Our invention is fully described and illustratcd in the following specificationl and accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

In the accompanying drawings,representing our improved direct-pumping elevator sys tem, Figure l is a side elevation showing the pump, tank, air-chamber, hydraulic cylinder and attachments, and the regulator with, its connecting mechanism. Fig. 2 isa central vertical section through the regulator. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the steamvalve. Fig. at represents the scroll or cam for operating the steam-inlet valve.

A is a hydraulic cylinder, which may be located in any preferred relation to the steampump and elevator-well, as convenience in any particular case may require. The. hydraulic cylinder A is provided, as usual, with a piston and the stationary and movable sheaves B B', around which the lifting-cable, which is connected with the elevator car or platform, isled. The movable sheaves B are connected with thc piston by suitable piston rods and arranged to travel on suitable ways, C, as in elevators of ordinary construction.

D is a duplex steam-pump, of ordinary construction, arranged to receive steam from a suitable steam-boiler th rough the su ppl y-pipe E. The water-cylindersp ofthe duplex pump are provided with the ordinary air-chamber, F. From the water-cylinders the water is forced by the pump through the pipe a, the valve G, and the pipe b into the hydraulic cylinder A, the discharge from the hydraulic Serial No. 199,398. (No model.)

'cylinder'taking place through the pipe c into the water-tank I.

d is' the inlet or suction pipe connecting the water -tank with the water-cylinders. The pipe a is provided with the weighted safety or overflow valve f, the surplus water discharged by the valve being delivered into the tank I through a suitable pipe, o.

c is the shifting-cable, which is attached to the wheel g, the shaft of which is provided with a pinion meshing with a rack connected with the valve in the valve-casing G, by the movement of which valve the supply of water to or the discharge of Water from the hydraulic cylinder is effected.

The valve and valve-casing may be of any ordinary or preferred construction.

Upon the shaft of the wheel g is placed a scroll or cam, m, (represented on an enlarged scale in Fig. 4,) which, by means of the rods h h h2 and bell-crank levers it', if required, transmits motion to the lever j, which opens or closes the valve K in the steam-supply pipe E. The lower end of the rod his provided with a roller fitted to the groove Z in the scroll m, the lower end of the rod being arranged to slide in a suitable guide. As will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 4, the groove Z of the scroll or cam m is made on a true circle for about half its length and extended outwardly for the other half, the object of such construction being to open the throttle-valve K when the hydraulic valve in the casing G is shifted to the position it is required to occupy in order to admit water from the pump to the hydraulic cylinder, while permitting the valve G to be moved in the opposite direction for the purpose of discharging the water from the cylinder without affecting the position of the throttlevalve K. The valve K is opened and closed by the outer or curved portion of the cam-groove, but remains closed while the roller on the end of rod h is engaged with the circular or concentric portion of it. The bellcranks i t" are pivoted to suitable brackets attached to the ceiling or any other convenient portion of the building, the particular arrangement shown in the drawings being illustrative merely of the manner of operating the valve K from the scroll or cam m. Any other suitable means of effecting this action may be IOC adopted as the location or relative arrangement of the steam-pump, the hydraulic cylinder, andthe valve-casing G may require in any particular case.

In order to regulate or proportion the supply of steam to the steam-cylinders n 'of the duplex pump D, we insert in the steam-supply pipe E the steam-valve L, arranged to be operated bythe regulator N, the construction of which is shown on an enlarged scale in the sectional view, Fig. 2. This valve is placed in the pipe between the throttle-valve andthe cylinders. The regulator N consists, essentially, of a suitable cylinder, o, provided with one or more Water-tight pistons, q, attached to the rod o', and one or more spiral-springs, s.

The cylinder o is connected by means of the pipe u with the interior of the hydraulic cylinder at the end next the inlet-pipe, or to the inlet-pipe itself, and the rod r is connected by means of the lever t, rod 21, and bell-crank lever w, if required, with the stemxof the steamvalve L. The construction .is such that the amount of steam admitted through the valve L to the steam-cylinders n of the pump D will vary with the pressure of the water in the hydraulic cylinder A, according to the load on the platform of the elevator. If there 'be a light load on the platform, the pressure in the cylinder o will only raise the rod r, compressing the spring s a short distance, and thereby, through the levers t yw and rod fu, opening the steam-valve L but slightly and permitting the entrance of a limited quantity of steam to the cylinders n, while if there be a heavy load on the platform the pressure in the cylinder o will be greater than in the previous case, the rod r will be moved a greater distance, and the valve L will be opened wider, thus proportioning or graduating the quantity of steam used to the amount of Work to be done in elevating the load. rlhus if a water-pressure of twenty pounds be required in the hydraulic cylinder A in order to raise a given load, the pressure of steam in the cylinders n will be regulated by the steam-valve L, so as to produce a water-pressure in the cylinders p of the pump suicient to perform the Work at the desired speed. rlhis pressure is slightly above that required in the hydraulic cylinder, sufficient to 'overcome the friction in the valve and pipes, thereby effecting a large degree of economy in the use of steam and destroying the vibrations of the elevator-platform caused 'by the motion of the pump if a full head of for adjusting the tension of the spring or springs s by means of a screw or threaded rod, Q, at the upper end of the frame-work P of the regulator. The lever t is pivoted at b to a projecting lug on the frame-work of the regulator.

We do not conne ourselves in this application to any particular form of regulator; but one constructed in substantial accordance with the drawings annexed to thisspecitication has been found in practice to operate satisfactorily. We prefer ato use a number of coiled springs, s, of different diameters, placed one within the other; but a single coiled spring or any other preferred form of spring may be used. rPhe outer end of the lever t is provided with a series of holes or other devices by which the point of connection between the lever and the rod o may be changed in order to alter the throw of the steam-valve L. The end of the bell-crank lever w is connected with the piston-rod .r by thejam-nuts b2 b2, so that the position of the balanced piston-valve f may be regulated with reference to the ports g. The object of this adjustment is to admit of adjusting the valve]N so as to regulate the speed of the elevator. The valve f is ordinarily set a trifle open, so that the pump will start with a light load on the platform or the weight of the platform itself. Any other suitable form of steam-regulating valve may, however, be employed instead of the 011e herein shown.

It will be evident on inspection that ourimproved construction of direct-pumping hydraulic elevators possesses many advantages over the usual tank system, in that it dispenses with the objectionable roof-tank and lengthy pipe-connections. Our construction also enables us to decrease the first cost, it occupies less room; there is less friction in the water-passages, and its lifting capacity can be increased beyond its ordinary limit, if required. We have demonstrated by practical trials on an extended scale that by our improved construction the pulsatory or vibrating motionof the elevator-platform is entirely obviated, which is due to the fact that the movement of the pump is regulated and controlled in direct proportion to the amount of work to be done.

We are aware .of Patents Nos. 193,027,'

220, 479, and 248,562, and hereby disclaim the constructions shown in them, as ourinvention has for its leading idea the attachment of a spring piston-regulator to the hydraulic cylinder, so as to receive the pressure of the water therefrom, whereby the load is, as it were, weighed, and the amount of steam admitted to the steam-pump proportioned or graduated to the load. By our invention we can raiselight or heavy loads at'the same rate of speed, as with the heavy loads the amount of steam admitted to the steam-pump is increased in proportion, in consequence of the greater compression o'f the spring of the regulator by the higher pressure in the hydraulic cylinder,

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whereby the inlet-valve L is opened, so as to permit the passage of a greater quantity of steam.

.We are aware that it has been proposed to provide hydraulic elevators employing compressed air acting directly upon the water in the lifting-piston in the main cylinder with regulator-valves operated by the difference between the pressurein the main cylinder caused to, by the weight on the car and the pressure of air acting upon the water, and do not desire to be understood as claiming any such construction of devices, our construction being superior in many respects, among others in that we dispense with maintaining high pressures in reservoirs either of steam or air, but operate our direct-pumpingapparatus bysteam at a low pressure, if desired, the amount used being regulated automatically in proportion to the load to be raised.

XVe claiml. In a hydraulic elevator, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston operating therein, to which the weight to be moved is connected, a steam pumping apparatus for forcing water into the hydraulic cylinder, a valve controlled by the operator in the car for controlling the admission of steam to the pumping apparatus, a governing device-such as a pistou operated upon by the pressure inthe main cylinder-connected to a valve located in the main steamsupply, whereby the operator may, by a manipulation of the iirst-mentioned valve, admit steam to or cut it oft` from the pump, while the piston-regulator is so arranged as to admit a greater quantity of steam to the pump when the pressure in the cylinder increases,and vice versa, substantially as described.

2. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the main cylinder, the piston operating therein connected to the weight to be moved, a steam pumping apparatus for forcing water in to the cylinder,- a tank with which the pump communicates and into which the main cylinder exhausts,a valve for controlling the passage between the main cylinder and the pumping apparatus, a valve for controlling the passage of steam to the pumping apparatus, and suitable connections between the said valves whereby they will be operated together, substantially as described.

3. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the main cylinder, apiston operating therein connected to the weight to be moved, a tank, a steam pumping apparatus for forcing water into the cylinder from the tank, a valve for controlling the passage between the pumping apparatus and the cylinder and between the cylinder and the tank, a valve for controlling the admission of steam to the pump, and connections between the two valves whereby they will be operated together, as set forth.

4. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the main cylinder, a piston operating therein connected to the weight to be moved, a tank, a steam pumping apparatus for forcing water into the cylinder from the tank, a valve controlling the passage between the pumping apparatus and the cylinder and between the cylinder and the tank, a valve located in the steam-supply to the pumping apparatus, and suitable connections between the two valves whereby the lirst-mentioned valve may be operated to regulate communication between the cylinder and tank, but when operated to open communication between the pumping apparatus and the cylinder the steam-valve will be opened, substantially as described.

5. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the main cylinder, the piston therein connected to the weight to be moved, a steam pumping apparatus for forcing water into said cylinder, a tank, a valve controlling the passage between the pumping apparatus and the cylinder and between the cylinder and tank, devices for operating said valve directly from the car, a valve controlling the admission of steam to the pumping apparatus, connections between the two valves, and a device-such as a caminterposed in said connectiomwhereby the operator in the car may operate the watervalve to regulate the'exhaust from the cylinder to the tank, but operating when communication is established between the pumping apparatus and the cylinder to open the steamvalve, substantially as described.

6. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the main cylinder, the piston therein con' nected to the weight to be moved, a steam pumping apparatus for forcing water into said cylinder, a valve for controlling the passage between said pumping apparatus and cylinder and also the exhaust from said cylinder, a valve for controlling the admission of steam to the pumping apparatus, a shaft by the rotation of which the water-valve is operated, a cam connected thereto, having a way therein partlyl concentric and partly eccentric, a projection operating in said way connected to the steam-valve, whereby when the water-valve is operated to control the exhaust the projection is in the concentric portion, but when the' valve is operated to connect the pumping apparatus with the cylinder the projection engages the eccentric portion and the steam-valve is opened, substantially as described.

7. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination -of the main cylinder, a piston connected to the weightto be moved operating therein, a steam pumping apparatus for forcing water into the cylinder, a tank with which said pump connects, a valve controlling communication between the pump and cylinder and also the eX- haust from the latter into the tank, a valve for controlling the supply of steamto the pump, connection between the two valves for causing them to operate together, and an automatic pressure-regulator communicating with the main cylinder and with a governing-valve located in the main steam-supply operating to admit a quantity of steam to the pump pro- IOO IIO

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portioned to the amount of pressure caused by the Weight on the piston in the main cylinder, substantially as described.

S. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the main cylinder, the piston connected to the Weight, the steam pumping apparatus for forcing water into the cylinder, a supplemental cylinder Connected tothe main Cylinder, a piston therein, a spring operating on said piston against the movement caused by pressure in the main cylinder, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, a governor-valve in the main steam-supply to the pump, and a connection between said valves and the supplemental piston, whereby the amount of steam admitted to the pump is proportioned to the pressure in the main cylinder and this proportion can be regulated 'by adjusting the tension of the spring before mentioned, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the cylinder A of a hydraulic elevator, of the steam-pump D, suitable Water outlet and inlet passages, regulator N, connected to the hydraulic cylinder and arranged to operate the steam-valve L,tbe steam-inlet valve K, cam m, and suitable connecting mechanism, substantially as described.

L. S. GRAVES. FRED. B. GRAVES.

Witnesses to signature of Lorenzo S. Graves:

WILLIAM B. KNAPP, S. F. SUTHERLAND.

Witnesses to signature of Fred. B. Graves:

A. SORGE, Jr., GEO. B. SELDEN. 

